EPSOM SCHOOL BOARD
EPSOM CENTRAL SCHOOL
EPSOM, NEW HAMPSHIRE

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19,  2006    7:30 P.M.

MINUTES OF MEETING

 

Present:               

Board Members:     Andrew Turnbull (chair), Barbara Doughty, Bill Yeaton

Excused -                  Gordon Ellis

David Dziura -           Assistant Superintendent of SAU 53 Schools

Patrick Connors –      ECS Principal

Tracey Miner -           secretary

 

Citizen/Staff:  none

 

Agenda Item 1.     Call to Order – by Andrew Turnbull at 7:34PM

 

Agenda Item 2.     Pledge of Allegiance – lead by Bill Yeaton

 

Immediate Business

 

Agenda Item 3A.  Citizens’/Staff Comments

 

There were none.

 

Agenda Item 3B.  Health Trust Employee Health Insurance Option

 

Dave Dziura distributed new handouts of HMO comparative tables for HealthTrust vs. SchoolCare.  The table was generated by HealthTrust.  Mark Benson from SchoolCare was then given the table to edit.  The edited table was then sent back to HealthTrust to review.  If the district does switch to HealthTrust, this would equal a $23,844 savings (3.6%) over the current SchoolCare health insurance program, for the 2006/2007 school year.  However, there will still be a $90,000 (approx.) increase in health care costs for the 2006/2007 school year.  Dave Dziura also handed out a list of SAU’s in New Hampshire that get their health care coverage from HealthTrust, which is more than double the number of those that receive their coverage from SchoolCare.

 

Patrick Connors arranged presentations for the teachers from both insurers.  He then met with the teachers and received mixed reaction to the change in insurers.  Some of the reasons to stay with SchoolCare included gym reimbursements; and referrals are not needed.  Reasons to switch to HealthTrust included:  transition coverage - spouse or family would be covered for a period of time if the subscriber expired on the job; better oral surgery benefit; wellness classes are offered to the family, and not just the subscriber; and, cheaper prescriptions.  Seven people gave Patrick very specific details about changing to HealthTrust or not, and of them, 4 said change, and 3 said don’t change.  Joan Pozner did an informal poll of 32 people.  5 said don’t change, 5 said it didn’t matter, 1 said change, and 21 didn’t have an opinion. 

 

Dave Dziura said that in order to get the HealthTrust rates as quoted, 75% of people in SAU 53 would need to join HealthTrust.  Allenstown wants to switch, but are the only district that has decided.  We have to let SchoolCare know by Feb. 1st.  If the district doesn’t participate at 75%, the SAU would enroll ECS in SchoolCare, and the rates would be as quoted on the handouts.  Barbara mentioned that there was a concern about HealthTrust raising rates the following year, after everyone had signed on.  Certainly, there was nothing preventing SchoolCare from doing the same thing.

 

Bill Yeaton made a motion to change the Epsom School District employees’ health insurance to HealthTrust, subject to 75% participation of the SAU members.  Barbara seconded the motion.

 

                        THE MOTION CARRIED ON A VOTE OF 3 - 0           

                                                Bill Yeaton -                Aye

                                                Barbara Doughty -      Aye

                                                Andrew Turnbull -      Aye

 

Other Business

 

Agenda Item 4A.  Citizens’/Staff Comments

 

There were none.

 

Agenda Item 4B.  ECS 2006/07 Principal Position

 

At 8:00P.M. Bill Yeaton made a motion that the Board enter non-public session under RSA 91-A:3II(a) and (b) in order to discuss the 2006/2007 Principal Position.  Barbara Doughty seconded the motion.

 

                        THE MOTION CARRIED ON A VOTE OF 3 - 0

                                                Bill Yeaton -                Aye

                                                Barbara Doughty -      Aye

                                                Andrew Turnbull -      Aye

 

At 8:14 P.M. Bill Yeaton made a motion to end the non-public session.  Barbara Doughty seconded the motion.

 

                        THE MOTION CARRIED ON A VOTE OF 3 - 0

                                                Bill Yeaton -                Aye

                                                Barbara Doughty -      Aye

                                                Andrew Turnbull -      Aye

 

Andrew Turnbull announced that the Board had taken no action while in non-public session.

Dave Dziura placed Patrick Connors’ name in nomination for the position of principal at Epsom Central School for the 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 school years.

 

Barbara Doughty made a motion to elect Patrick Connors as per Dave Dziura’s nomination.

Bill Yeaton seconded the motion.

 

                        THE MOTION CARRIED ON A VOTE OF 3 - 0

                                                Bill Yeaton -                Aye

                                                Barbara Doughty -      Aye

                                                Andrew Turnbull -      Aye

 

Patrick handed out an assistant principal search schedule.  The position will be advertised the last week of January.  Preliminary interviews will take place between February 6th – 17th.  Committee interviews will be done February 20th – 24th.  Administration interviews will be March 6th – 10th.  Interviews by the school board will be March 13th – 16th.

 

The order of business at the deliberative session was discussed, as to who would present what.  Andrew Turnbull will present the budget.  Barbara Doughty will present the teachers’ contract.  Gordon Ellis will present the paraprofessionals contracts.

 

There was discussion about emergency response of the town during the recent flooding, and how people were boarded at the fire station.  There was discussion about using the school gym for this purpose.  Bill Yeaton mentioned that the school could get a generator through grant money.

 

Agenda Item 5.     Adjournment

 

At 8:38P.M., hearing no call for further business to be conducted, Andrew Turnbull adjourned the meeting.

 

Next Scheduled Meeting will on Wednesday, February 8, 2006 at 7:00PM (note change of time).